Oscillating propeller



No. 625,362. Patented May 23, I899.

' n. n. SHEEN.

USCILLATING PBbPELtEFh- (Application filed Aug. 1, 1898.)

(No Model.)

WWW/$.- Emma 6M0. Hamel @hum B5 Thmlwr UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL R. SHEEN, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

QSCILLATING PROPELLER.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 625,362, dated May 23, 1899.

Application filed August 1,1898- Serial No. 687,379. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, DANIEL R. SHEEN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Propelling Mechanism for Boats; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to propelling mechanism for boats.

The object of the invention is to providea new means for propelling boats and to arrange a device of this class so that the oarsman is permitted to face the bow of the boat instead of the stern.

The further object is to furnish a boat-rowing mechanism operated by the united work of the hands, the arms, and the back.

Furthermore, the object is to provide paddles which are collapsible in order that when rising out of the water they may be closed against wind-pressure, but open again on entering the water.

I am aware that it is old to provide a bowfacing rowing mechanism and a collapsible paddle; but I believe it is new to furnish the particular construction shown and described hereinafter and above all to raise the paddles out of the water to close them during that movement and then to lower them and ope them for a new stroke.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of the boat, showing my device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the rear end of the boat, also showing my improved device. Fig. 3 is a view of a paddle used with my apparatus. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a guide used on each side of the boat. Fig. 5 is a plan view of an operating-arm, showing cross-section of a guide for the same. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a back for assisting the operation of propelling the boat.

A indicates the boat, supporting upon its gunwale the brackets B. At the top of each bracket is formed or attached an eye 0, receiving a paddle-arm D, carrying on its upper free extremity a knob, preventing such arm slipping through the eye. A springE is attached at one end to the bracket and at the other to the paddle-arm and serves to support the weight of the paddle and its connecting parts, to be described. A connecting-rod F serves to operate the paddles, and at the middle of its length is a handle G. At the conmeeting-point of such rod and handle a pin H is attached, carrying a ball I, inclosed Within the slotted guide J.

The paddles consist of two plates K K, hinged on the arm D by ears L or their equivalents. A spring M surrounds the arm, and each end thereof bears against one of the said plates K, as shown.

A guide N is attached at each side of the boat, being formed substantially as shown in the several figures. These portions are provided to keep the arms D in place and to close the'paddles at each movement in the air after the stroke. I provide bracesato hold the guides in place; but any other means may be employed for that purpose. The latter portions are spread at the forward ends to engage the open paddle as it rises from the water. The orbits described by the paddles are nearly elliptical and correspond with the form of the guide J, except they are of a greater length. The guides N are in that portion of the orbit of the paddles above the water, and as the paddles rise the open end of such guide engages the plates thereof and closes them as the rearward movemen-tis taken. In passing out of the guides the paddles open to their widest limit by reason of the springs M described. As before stated, the springs E E support the weight of the paddles. Therefore in operating the device very little eifort is necessary to raise and lower the parts at the curved ends of the guide. When in the position shown in unbroken lines, a straight pull along the lower horizontal path of the guide J accomplishes the propelling of the boat, and the dotted linesshow upward position for backward movement. In Fig. 6 is shown a back-rest 0, attached to a yokeQ, rigidly connected to the rods F on opposite sides of the boat. The seat P lies immediately in front of the back 0 in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the operator, sitting upon this and grasping the handles G, throws his weight backward as in rowing. The pressure on the back and the pull on the handles move the paddles from a front to a rearward position. As the stroke is finished the handles are raised to pass around the curve of the guide J, the back following, as shown by dotted lines. A forward thrust carries the paddles to the front or starting-point, and the momentum acquired by such thrust aids in carrying the pin H around the opposite curve of the guide to the working position. As this action results the paddles, as before explained, pass in and out of the guides N for the purposes named. The back 0 after each movement given by the operator returns to the starting-place behind the seat as a matter of course. The paddles, the back 0, and the handle all describe ellipses, as is evident.

The paddle-plates K are each provided with a roller 1) to reduce friction caused by the passage of the said plates through the guides, and as the latter are flared or spread at the bottom, as shown in Fig. 2, the rollers pass easily between them. It is quite evident, however, that any other construction and arrangement of parts may replace that described.

Obviously the paddles and connecting-rod F may be employed without the guide J or guide N, if desired, merely using a rigid paddle, like the common oar; but in this case suitable supports would be necessary to keep each paddle level with its neighbor.

It is not absolutely necessary to use the back 0, and it may be discarded, if desired. It is thus seen that I do not limit myself to any particular construction in this device, but merely show and describea form thereof.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In boat-propelling mechanism, the uprights on the gunwale of the boat, eyes thereon, a paddle-arm held loosely within the eyes, collapsible paddles at the lower extremities of the arms, suitable connections between the paddle-arms for operating them, springs for balancing the weight of the paddles, and a guide for giving the mechanism proper movement and guides for closing the paddles substantially as set forth.

2. In a boat-propelling mechanis m,paddles, or propellers mounted at the sides of the boat and adapted to swing parallel with the line of travel thereof, rods, or arms connecting each series of paddles, handles on the rods for moving them together with the paddles and means for guiding the paddles into and out of the water for the purposes set forth.

3. In power mechanism for boats, paddles or propellers mounted at the sides of the boat, springs supporting the same, rods connecting each set of paddles,- a guide on each side of the boat for giving the paddles their desired direction of movement, connections between the rods and guides, a handle for each rod, and a back-rest within the boat and held between the rods substantially as set forth.

4. In boat-propelling mechanism, paddles or propellers mounted at the sides of the boat and adapted to swing parallel with the line of travel thereof, rods or arms for connecting each set of paddles, handles on the rods, a

' guide on each side of the boat and suitable connection between the rods and said guides whereby when the connections are made to follow the guides the paddles describe an elliptical course while passing out of and into the water substantially as set forth.

5. In a boat-propelling mechanism, paddles or propellers, rods connecting them, a stationary guide on the boat for imparting proper movement to the paddles while passing into and out of the water, a suitable guide for the rods, a sliding connection between the rods and the said guide for transmitting the de sired movement to the paddles whereby the latter are simultaneously raised out of the water and reentered for the purposes set forth.

6. In a propelling mechanism for boats of the character described, the combination of the vertical brackets mounted upon the gunwale of the boat, eyes at right angles thereto,

spring-balanced paddle-arms within the eyes,

paddles at the lower extremities of the arms, connecting-rods between each pair of the paddle-arms, a handle for each connecting-rod, a pin on the said rod, a ball on the pin, a guide secured to the boat and adapted to engage the ball, a back portion secured to the connecting-rods, a suitable guide on the boat for engaging and closing each of the paddles substantially as set forth and described.

7. In a propelling mechanism for boats, the uprights mounted on the gunwale of the boat, eyes formed therewith and at right angles thereto, paddle-arms held within the eyes, springs for supporting the arms, paddles at tached to the arms, consisting of the plates K K loosely attached to the said arms and springs for operating said plates, guides on the boat for closing the plates substantially as described, a connecting-rod for each pair of paddlearms, a handle for operating the rods, a back portion attached to the rods to assist in operating the paddles, and a suitable guide for the handles and rods to give the paddles proper movement substantially as described.

8. In a mechanism for propelling boats the combination of a boat, paddle-arms pivoted thereon and free to move vertically and in a direction parallel with the direction of travel of the boat, springs for supporting the arms, paddles on the extremities of the arms the same adapted to open and close, guides for closing such paddles when out of the water, springs for opening them when free of the guides, rods connecting the paddle-arms at each side of the boat, a guide on the side of the boat for raising and lowering the paddles for the purposes set forth, suitable connection between the rods and such guide, a backrest and suitable handles on the said rods for imparting movement to the paddles all substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL R. SHEEN.-

W'itnesses:

J. H. BLUSOH, CARL G. NELSON.

ICC

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